Codes and Contradictions: Race, Gender Identity, and Schooling (SUNY series, Power, Social Identity, and Education) - Hardcover

"This book uniquely compares processes of identity formation among three groups of young women--white, African American and Puerto Rican, and Latinas. The inclusion of racialized minorities like Puerto Ricans as well an non-white immigrants is particularly important." -- Catherine Raissiguier, author of Becoming Women/Becoming Workers: Identity Formation in a French Vocational School

"I found the author's careful and convincing portrayal of how race/ethnicity, gender, and social class collectively influence identity among these girls fascinating. The whole notion of identity construction--and particularly the role that schools play in its evolution--is underdeveloped in the educational literature. This book has important ramifications." -- Ann Locke Davidson, author of Making and Molding Identity in Schools: Student Narratives on Race, Gender, and Academic Engagement

This contribution to feminist research explores the complexities of young White, African American, and Latina women's identity formation as constructed within a New York alternative high school dropout-prevention program. Racialized minorities like Puerto Ricans as well as non-white immigrants are included in this study of 30 ninth-grade, working-class students (class of 1988). Following a theoretical overview of educational research on social class and introductory comments, and data on the socioeconomic and educational status of US women, Weiler (educational foundations, Hunter College, CUNY) portrays these young women's visions of their adult lives and teachers' assessments of them. Appends methodological notes on the interviews and observations. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)